The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-26
TIE rARrry AND the SOUTH.

THE TARIFF AND THE SOUTH.
The Baltimore kanufadsres' Record
has issued an extra sheet, designed TO
support the present high tariff, ss-
pecially as blessing to the South.
The manifesto is drawn up with great
adroitness The Louisville Courier
had made certain statements as to the
effect Of the tariff in increasing the
prices Of taxed articles, and therefore
the expense Of these articles TO the
buyer. The Record meets these stat ,
ments by exhibiting list Of fifty. We
articles, the prices OF which have de-
clined since 1873. The two papers
nigh: cavil for months about the
figures each has put out, but the TO-
quiry as TO whether free trade or pro-
lection Is bet for the country would
stand sill while they were discussing
these details. II the Record showed
that where prices have declined, that
benefit to the people was secured to
them by the system OF protection, then
it would insure triumph for high
tariff measures. Bat 1t fails to do
that. N 1t showed that paying an
average Of 43 per cent. on
the vast number OF articles
the tariff includes in its
operations, made those goods
cheaper than they would be without
q 43 per cent. tax, then 1t would have
accomplished much but this it dot
not do. Improvement OF manufsc' ure,
as in iron and steel; more ready COM
munication from the extension Of rail-
roads; the recovery OF the country
from the effects Of war; and especially
the lowering effec! upon prices OF the
severe depression we have suffersd =,
and other influences 1t is not neces-
sary to recapitulate, have lowered the
prices OF many articles during the time
high tariff has existed. Those declines
Of price were not the consequence OF
high tariff they cams In spite OF high
tariff, not because OF it. This being the
case, the Records list OF flty-fve arti-
cles that have lowered in price, Ia only
q dispuie with the Journal about fig
ures: II leaves the free trade and pro-
lection problems just where they were
before. Wall the Record undertake to
say that II the as per cent. tax were
removed the taxed articles would be
dearer In consequence viii It say
they would not be cheaper2 II 1t can
not say these things, what do Its
hfty-fve rows Of figures amount
to, as proof that high thrift i,
is a blessing to the South
Will the Record show that, II the tax
were taken off iron cotton ties, 1t would
be an injury terths cotton planter2
Or, il the tax on tin plate were re-
moved, Il would damage the interests
Of the Southern gardener when he
cans his fruits and his vegetables?
Before the tax on qulnine was re-
moved that article sold In the stores
at So to IS rs the ounce bottle. TIE
New York Drug Reporter, Of January
18th, quotes the wholesale price OF
American qulnine at So to IS cent,
an ounce, French IS to SO cents, Ger.
man at 40 TO "a cents. Gan the Record
assert that this great lowering OF price,
through the removal OF the tariff tax,
is an impairment OF the interests OF the
farmers who rsside In the low, swampy
regions Of portions OF the South =?
When the Record proves that high
tariff makes merchandise cheaper, and
the reduction Of the tax makes them
dearsr, Its arguments will do what its
ffty'fve rows Of deliberately grouped
figures entirely fail to accom- plish.
The Record is very adroit, however,
while displaying its list OF t'cles
lower In price now than in 1873; It
does not say that they were cheapened
by the tariff, but the unwary reader
OF the Records extra will hardly fail to
regard such an assertion as impli ed,
and will be bihboozled accordingly.
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